Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award after move to Atlanta Hawks
Dyson Daniels wins NBA's Most Improved Player award after move to Atlanta Hawks
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Thunder's preferred matchup: Clippers or Nuggets?
For The Hoops crew discuss whether the Thunder would prefer to face the Clippers or Nuggets in the second round of the NBA playoffs
The "Great Barrier Thief" has swiped the NBA's 2024-25 Most Improved Player award.
Atlanta Hawks guard and Australia native Dyson Daniels was named the league's Most Improved Player during Wednesday's "Inside the NBA" broadcast on TNT. Daniels got 44 first-place votes out of 100 ballots and a total of 332 points. Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers finished second with 23 first-place votes and 186 total points. Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons finished third with 15 first-place votes and 122 total points.
Daniels averaged a career high in points (14.1), rebounds (5.9), assists (4.4), steals (3.0), field goal percentage (49.3%) and 3-point percentage (34%) in 76 starts this season. He had just 27 starts in the first two years of his career in New Orleans.
Daniels nearly tripled his points per game average from 5.8 in the 2023-24 season while playing for the Pelicans to 14.1 points in the 2024-25 season, his first year in Atlanta.
"This is my third year in the league, with my first two being in New Orleans. I felt like I kind of went in there and wasn't myself. I feel like I took a backseat role," said Daniels, who virtually joined the TNT broadcast from Australia, where it's early in the morning. "I came into this third year wanting to really put my foot down and show what I can do. I think it's just a small step in the right direction this year and I feel like I got a lot more in me."
NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Stephon Castle wins back-to-back awards for San Antonio Spurs
Daniels, 22, led the NBA in steals per game (3), total deflections (443) and in the combo category of steals plus blocks plus charges drawn (297). He's the first player to average 3.0 steals since Alvi Robertson in 1990-91.
Daniels is only the second Hawks player to win the Most Improved Player honor. Alan Henderson was the first in 1998.
Among Daniels' achievements:
First player since Scottie Pippen (1994-95) to record at least 200 steals and at least 50 blocks and just one of seven players to accomplish that in the past 50 seasons.
First guard to lead the league in steals plus blocks since Michael Jordan in 1987-88.
The 22-year-old Daniels, who was acquired by the Hawks from New Orleans in a July trade, is the youngest player to record 200 or more steals in a season since 1973-74, when steals became an official NBA statistic.
Just three players have recorded 200 or more steals since 2000: Allen Iverson, Chris Paul and Daniels.
Collected 79 loose balls in 2024-25, good for No. 2.
Who has won NBA's Most Improved Player award?
Here's every player that has won the Most Improved Player honor since the first award was given during the 1985-86 NBA season:
2024-25 — Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks
2023-24 — Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (Voting)
2022-23 — Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
2021-22 — Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
2020-21 — Julius Randle, New York Knicks
2019-20 — Brandon Ingram, New Orleans Pelicans
2018-19 — Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors
2017-18 — Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
2016-17 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
2015-16 — C.J. McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers
2014-15 — Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
2013-14 — Goran Dragic, Phoenix Suns
2012-13 — Paul George, Indiana Pacers
2011-12 — Ryan Anderson, Orlando Magic
2010-11 — Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
2009-10 — Aaron Brooks, Houston Rockets
2008-09 — Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
2007-08 — Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
2006-07 — Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
2005-06 — Boris Diaw, Phoenix Suns
2004-05 — Bobby Simmons, LA Clippers
2003-04 — Zach Randolph, Portland Trail Blazers
2002-03 — Gilbert Arenas, Golden State Warriors
2001-02 — Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
2000-01 — Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
1999-00 — Jalen Rose, Indiana Pacers
1998-99 — Darrell Armstrong, Orlando Magic
1997-98 — Alan Henderson, Atlanta Hawks
1996-97 — Isaac Austin, Miami Heat
1995-96 — Gheorghe Muresan, Washington Bullets
1994-95 — Dana Barros, Philadelphia 76ers
1993-94 — Don MacLean, Washington Bullets
1992-93 — Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Denver Nuggets
1991-92 — Pervis Ellison, Washington Bullets
1990-91 — Scott Skiles, Orlando Magic
1989-90 — Rony Seikaly, Miami Heat
1988-89 — Kevin Johnson, Phoenix Suns
1987-88 — Kevin Duckworth, Portland Trail Blazers
1986-87 — Dale Ellis, Seattle SuperSonics
1985-86 — Alvin Robertson, San Antonio Spurs
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
40 minutes ago
- New York Post
Kevin Durant trade coming in ‘next few days' with three contenders making big push
A Kevin Durant trade appears imminent. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday on 'The Pat McAfee Show' that the Suns superstar could be traded 'in the next few days' with the Rockets, Heat and Timberwolves at the forefront of the negotiations. 'There is some serious traction on conversations, on trade scenarios with the Suns,' Charania said, noting that between six and eight teams have reached out to Phoenix, but that the front office has keyed in on conversations with those three contenders in the past day or two. Advertisement Charania initially reported that the Knicks were in the mix for Durant, but The Post's Stefan Bondy reported they were not a suitor. Suns forward Kevin Durant during a game on March 30, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images On Thursday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported there is an 'increasingly strong belief' Durant will be moved before the NBA Draft on June 25. Durant is in the final year of his four-year, $166 million deal, which potential trade partners must take into account before pulling the trigger on a deal. Advertisement An extension for Durant is one of the crucial questions remaining in talks. And the teams that are considering trading for Durant must consider whether they would be willing to sign the 36-year-old to an expensive extension, or if they'd be content to have Durant as a one-year rental. Advertisement Charania likened that potential situation to the Raptors' 2018 trade for Kawhi Leonard, who delivered Toronto a title in his one season with the team before signing with the Clippers in free agency. Durant is in the latter stages of his career, but he has remained a dominant scorer. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday that Kevin Durant could be traded 'in the next few days.' @PatMcAfeeShow/X The 15-time All-Star averaged 26.6 points in 62 games with the Suns last season, although the team went 36-46 and missed the playoffs. Advertisement Durant would likely have a crack at a third NBA title with either Houston, Minnesota or Miami — although the Heat aren't as well-positioned to make a deep playoff run as the Rockets and Timberwolves are. In Houston, Durant would slot in alongside an exciting upstart team with young stars like Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. Minnesota presents the opportunity to play with an already contending squad that features superstar Anthony Edwards.
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
NBA Finals 2025: How to Watch Pacers vs. Thunder Game 4 Tonight
It's a quick turnaround for Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Instead of the regular cadence of two days between games, there was only one off-night before the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are back on the court for tonight's Game 4. After splitting the first two games in Oklahoma City, the Pacers defeated the Thunder in front of a raucous home crowd on Wednesday to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on ABC. Here's everything you need to know to watch or stream every game of the NBA Finals. Bennedict Mathurin led all scorers with 27 points off the bench to help the Indiana Pacers to a Game 3 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images What is the NBA Finals schedule? Here's the remaining series schedule. (All times listed are ET, and all the games are on ABC.) Friday, June 13 Game 4: Thunder at Pacers, 8:30 p.m. Monday, June 16 Game 5: Pacers at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19 Game 6*: Thunder at Pacers, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22 Game 7*: Pacers at Thunder, 8 p.m. *If necessary How to watch the NBA Finals Every game of the NBA Finals will be shown on ABC. There are two ways to watch local channels without needing a cable or satellite TV subscription. The first is with a live TV streaming service. And the second is with an over-the-air antenna, if you live in an area that has good reception. Each of the five live TV streaming services carry ABC, but not every service carries every local network so check each one using the links below to make sure it carries ABC in your area. All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Best NBA Finals Game 4 Player Props: Can Bennedict Mathurin Burn OKC Again?
Bennedict Mathurin's big nights in both Games 2 and 3 of the NBA Finals bode well for his chances to go over his points prop in Game 4. Bennedict Mathurin's big nights in both Games 2 and 3 of the NBA Finals bode well for his chances to go over his points prop in Game 4. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. We've struggled with the player prop bets we've given in this series, but we nevertheless feel good about our best plays in tonight's pivotal Game 4. The Thunder's depth was a perceived advantage entering this series, but the Pacers' reserves have now helped Indiana take two of the first three games of this series. Indiana won Game 1, 111-110, thanks in large part to a 17-point night by Obi Tobbin, which helped the Pacers' bench outscore the Thunder's 39-28. After Thunder backups Aaron Wiggins and Alex Caruso both went off in Game 2 in a one-sided win by OKC, the Pacers bench was once again the story in Game 3. Bennedict Mathurin (27 points, 4 rebounds), TJ McConnell (10 points, 5 assists, 5 steals) and Obi Toppin (8 points, 6 rebounds) helped Indiana win the bench battle 49-18 to give the Pacers a 2-1 lead that turned this series on its head. We wouldn't be surprised to see Toppin and McConnell play well again in Game 4, but our favorite NBA Finals Game 4 player prop bets both involve the hero of Game 3: third-year Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin. Bennedict Mathurin 11+ Points (-105 at DraftKings) -- 1 unit A 22-year-old player coming off a career night like Mathurin's Game 3 is usually not the best player prop option in the following game, especially on a stage like the NBA Finals. But whether Mathurin has any more 20-point nights in store for the Pacers or not, we expect him to remain productive throughout the rest of this series, especially at home. Obviously, Mathurin was incredible in Game 3, with 14 points in the second quarter alone en route to a game-high 27 points. It's worth noting that he also had a substantial impact in Game 2. He quietly scored 14 points on 4-for-7 FG shooting and 5-for-7 FT shooting in his team's 123-107 loss. After taking three shots at the rim (2-for-3), two mid-range pull-ups (1-for-2) and two 3-pointers (1-for-2) in Game 2, Mathurin once again enjoyed quality looks in Game 3. His shot chart in Indiana's big win on Wednesday night shows that he shot 4-for-6 in the restricted area, 3-for-3 on mid-range jumpers and 2-for-3 from outside, while knocking down 7 of 8 free-throw attempts. The encouraging news for the rest of this series is that even if he had missed all his shots from the mid-range and outside in Game 3, Mathurin still would have scored 15 points. Another encouraging factor is that all but one of Mathurin's made field goals in Game 3 came in the halfcourt, with just one layup coming on a secondary break. His staggering free-throw rate in this series (he's taken 19 total FTA and 24 total FGA) makes him a good bet to once again easily reach double-figures. And if his jumper is falling, another 20-point night doesn't feel out of the question. Following a rough start to the playoffs -- he averaged 18 minutes or fewer vs. the Bucks, Cavaliers and Knicks -- Mathurin has now scored at least 14 points in four of the Pacers' last six games, including three games with at least 20 points. The recent sample size is small, but he looks like the player who finished third on the Pacers in scoring in the regular season with 16.1 points per game in 29.8 minutes per night. We're a little late to what might be a crowded bandwagon after Mathurin's jaw-dropping Game 3, but we're confident that his recent success is sustainable. In fact, we also recommend wagering a half-unit on Mathurin Over 14.5 Points (+250 at FanDuel). Newsweek may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up through the links in this article. See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details. Sports betting operators have no influence over newsroom coverage.
